And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. This time around, though, we can ponder a much longer stretch, since we will be taking a break until Jan. 2. As for our agenda, it remains in flux. We hope to spend time with our short people, especially helping our shortest acclimate to the driving machine; catch up on our reading; visit the Pharmalot ancestors; and, of course, take some naps. And what about you? This is a holiday season for so many, of course, so perhaps this would be a nice time to catch up with someone special or maybe take stock. You could also take time to explore the world, far or near. Or place a bet on whether a certain wall gets built. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you next year …

Get set for drug prices to rise next month, STAT tells us. Roughly two-thirds of medicines that are closely tracked by payers due to cost are expected to rise between 7 percent and 9 percent next month, according to Bernstein analyst Ronny Gal. And wholesale prices for drugs that are administered by physicians should increase by about 3 percent. Overall, “the breadth of the increases is about 20 percent higher than previous years,” he wrote in an investor note after surveying payers.

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